Beauchemin dealt to ducks for Lupul and prospect in first move leading up to the Feb 28. trade deadline.

Defenceman Francois Beauchemin has two goals in 54 games with the Leafs this season. He was signed by Toronto as a free agent in 2009.

By:Kevin McGranSports Reporter, Published on Wed Feb 09 2011

It was a busy Wednesday for Leafs GM Brian Burke: He added some top-six scoring in forward Joffrey Lupul, added a defensive prospect in Jake Gardiner, grabbed a mid-round 2013 draft pick and said he'd call up Keith Aulie at 12:01 p.m. Thursday.

And that was all because he traded Francois Beauchemin.

And he's not done.

“We're excited about today. We think it's a good day. It fits with our program, getting younger, slightly younger, in this case,” said Burke.

“You can expect more moves. We're not done. We continue to be active. We have a nothing imminent, but that of course can change with a phone call.” The next thing that will happen will be determining the future of centre John Mitchell. He was placed on waivers. Another NHL team will either claim him, or he will be sent to the Marlies. Either way, once that roster spot opens up, the Leafs will call up Aulie to take over Beauchemin's spot on the blue line.

“We don't have a roster spot, we have nothing to announce today, but as soon as we get a roster spot, we're calling up Keith Aulie. We expect him to be here for a while.

“That's where the youth movement will become clear.”

The trade comes just as the Leafs are on a 4-0-1 spot and joining the conversation about a playoff spot.

“People are going to ask if this is a concession on a playoff spot. It's not at all,” said Burke.

“In our view, our scoring has been bunched to a handful of people, we're adding an asset (Lupul) that can basically diversify our scoring a little bit, give us some dimension on power plays.

“We think the big man (Aulie) can step in and play on defence. He's a young kid, we don't want to put too much pressure on him, he'll make mistakes, but we expect him to come up and be here for a while.”

Leaf coach Ron Wilson has some advice for Lupul.

“He better get himself a good night's sleep,” said Wilson.

“We're going to play him a lot.”

Lupul, a gifted goal scorer with a latent series of health issues, will find himself most likely on a line with Tyler Bozak and Clarke MacArthur, a former teammate with the Medicine Hat Tigers, as the Leafs believe themselves to have found a top-six forward.

“We should get some balance,” said Wilson.

“We should have three lines that have the potential to score every time they're on the ice.

“He's got a great shot. He's just a goal scorer, as simple as that.”

Lupul said he's worked hard to come back from a back injury and is happy to get a chance with Toronto because he felt he didn't fit in to Anaheim's plans.

“For a while there it was a tough situation,” Lupul said of his injury.

“I didn't know what the future had in store for me. I worked really hard to come back. I'm starting to feel better and better and more comfortable every night.

“There's a lot I can bring to the team. Since I came back, I didn't really have a place on their team. I can’t say I'm completely shocked. I'm going to get an opportunity here after coming back from injury. ... From a hockey standpoint I'm definitely happy to be moving on.”

The deal was pure Brian Burke, the Leafs GM who likes to deal well in advance of the trade deadline. He did so in acquiring Dion Phaneuf and J-S Giguere last year and did it again with Lupul.

“In my history, I've always tried to beat the trade deadline,” said Burke. “When you get to the trade deadline, it's like a stampede. There's lots of milling around, and lots of confusion, and I think its much more difficult to act with clarity and purpose at the deadline.

“It's almost like a party with a pinata, everyone is going for one player everyone is swinging at it, it's hard to focus.

“You can set your price. If you don't get your price, you can always wait.”

The Leafs also got highly regarded puck-moving defenceman in Jake Gardiner and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2013 entry draft for Beauchemin. The condition on the pick is the length of time Lupul is on the roster. The longer Lupul stays, the lower the pick becomes.

Beauchemin has another year left in his contract at about $3.55 million. Lupul has two years left at $4.25 million.

Burke had said he wanted help now and prospects in any trade and delivered.

In Gardiner, the Leafs get a first rounder from 2008 (17th) overall that Burke drafted. He has seven goals and 23 assists in 30 games and was a member of the 2010 Team USA that won gold at the world junior championships.

“He's a real good skater, we project him as a top four defenceman,” Burke said of Gardiner.

Beauchemin, 30, has two goals and 10 assists in 54 games with the Leafs, returns to the Ducks, where he won the Stanley Cup in 2007.

“It's tough to see him leave,” said Leaf goalie J-S Giguere, who was on that 07 Ducks team. “But at the same time, it's part of hockey.

“I talked to him before he left, and for sure he's in a bit of shock, but at the same time he's going to a place that's familiar to him and his family and that's reassuring to him.”

Beauchemin, who had a limited no-trade contract, said Anaheim was on his list because he'd played there before. He said he loved playing in Toronto and did not ask for a trade.

“I loved it here, it's a great city to play, a great group of guys,” said Beauchemin.

“We're out of a playoff spot and thats not where you want to be at this time of year. I wish we could have been better.

“I was kind of expecting something to happen with all the rumours out there.”

The key ‘for now’ for the Leafs is Lupul, a 27-year-old with five goals and eight assists in 26 games.

His best year was his rookie year in Anaheim, with 28 goals. He's also had seasons of 20 and 25 with Philadelphia but has had injury issues.

He returned to the Ducks lineup on Dec. 5 vs. Phoenix after missing nearly a full year with a back injury and subsequent blood infection.

“We need to score more goals and giving Lupul an opportunity, he should be able to help us offensively,” said Wilson.

“We have to be patient with him. He hasn't played much in the last two years. In the past he's shown he can score and score in big situations.”

The Leafs, meanwhile, have won four of their last five despite a prolonged scoring slump by Phil Kessel. They're eight points out of a playoff spot.

“We've been trying to look for goal scoring, both inside (the organization) and outside, and an opportunity to pick up Joffrey Lupul presented itself,” said Wilson.

“We think we're deep enough as an organization to give up a player like Beauchemin, who has played well for us, who was a leader on and off the ice. It's going to be hard to replace his minutes, but we think we've got another key to the offensive puzzle.”

Tim Brent was Lupul's teammate in 04-05 with Cincinnati of the AHL.

“He's a solid guy and he's going to bring a lot to our team,” said Brent.

“He's got one of the best shots I've seen, very quick release.”

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